Happy 2015! I trust you are all well and hope you had a lovely Christmas break. I must say, I’m still on holiday! For the past couple of years, my December has been marked by endless, stifling revision. This one has been different. As I am now part of the workforce, I’ve had the opportunity to take some time off and just relax. I’ve visited family and friends, ran errands for my parents and unapologetically overslept. It’s been delightful.
Now that 2015 is in full focus, many of us are planning for the upcoming months and setting goals. It’s great to feel a sense of direction for the year. But it can also be daunting if you’re not quite sure what you want to do or where you want to be. I think being uncertain about your purpose is healthy and normal. Uncertainty gives you the opportunity to reflect and re-evaluate what’s truly important to you.
Some years ago while I was wandering about on the Internet, I came across an eye-opening set of questions and thoughts that helped me brainstorm and reflect on what my purpose is. They may not give you the answers you’re looking for but they are definitely a good place to start.
p.s. I have no recollection of which blog I borrowed this from! So I must clarify that the following content is NOT my work.
Lets start with the basics:
For these exercises, grab a sheet of paper, make yourself a cup of tea and go to a quiet, comfortable space.
PURPOSE
To help find your purpose, answer these questions:
- What are you most passionate about?
- What activities do you find the most joy in?
- What is the one thing you feel you couldn’t live without doing?
- Who are your inspirations, and why?
- What skills are people constantly complimenting you on?
- What goals in your life are the most meaningful?
- What do you want to be remembered for?
- What comes exceptionally easy for you?
Once you have answered these questions, try to find the ‘common denominators’. Do you see any patterns/similarities? Is there a recurring theme? These patterns/similarities are an indicator of your purpose in life. If you are still having issues; try to focus your quest on uncovering your raw, natural abilities, things that come innate to you.
GOALS
Set your goals using the S.M.A.R.T method:
S: Stands for specific; you must be as specific as possible when writing down your list of goals. Focus on why you want to do it, how you want to do it, and when you want to do it.
M: Stands for measurable; you need to find a way to keep track of your goals so that you are able to make any necessary changes to your plans along the way. There needs to be “mini-goals” built in your main goal so that you are able to note milestones and progress.
A: Stands for attainable; make sure the goal set is truly important to you; whenever a goal is important to you, you remain motivated, and you are able to think of workarounds to bypass potential problems.
R: Stands for realistic; make sure your goals are within reach. However don’t confuse setting realistic goals with lowering your expectations. Setting realistic goals helps fuel the momentum and keep the excitement going as you move through your list. Make sure you have all the tools/skills/resources available to achieve your goals, as you are more likely to work hard to achieve them.
T: Stands for time based; make sure to set specific dates for completion of your goals, if specific time frames aren’t set, you may feel like you can start at any time.
BE-DO-HAVE
Once you have figured out your purpose, and written down your goals; it’s time to practice the BE – DO – HAVE Paradigm. Are you are a Human Doing or a Human Being?
Simply put, you need to BE in harmony first. That is your state of being. Acting in love manifests an abundance of blessings.
Once you’ve mastered the art of “being” you need to actually DO some work prior to HAVING the true fulfillment you desire!
You can take it further than this and create a vision board which will help you envision your goals and purpose. I shared how vision boards have helped me in this previous post.
This exercise helped me clarify some of my plans and I hope you find it equally helpful.
T
© Tessy Maritim